In just his second year, Williston girls basketball coach Willie Powers II led the Lady Red Devils to their first state title in program history.

For his accomplishments, Powers was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Rural Coach of the Year.

“It was a great year for these young ladies who now see what it takes to be champions on the court and off the court,” he said.

Williston (22-2) had to knock off defending FHSAA Rural state champion Wildwood twice in the postseason.

The Lady Red Devils defeated the Wildcats, 72-62, to win the Rural-District 7 tournament on Friday, Feb. 6, followed by a 61-52 victory in the Rural-Region 4 Final on Friday, Feb. 20.

Williston survived a scare in the state semifinals at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, scoring six straight points in the final two minutes to rally past Blountstown, 43-41. They outscored Jay, 20-9, in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 66-49 win in the title game.

“This group came together at the right time to win their first state championship in girls basketball at Williston Middle High School,” Powers said.

Powers (110 points), who won two state titles (2010 and 2012) and had six final four appearances in his 21 seasons at P.K. Yonge, finished ahead of Jorey Diamond (68 points) of state runner-up Jay and Chris Works (37 points) of state semifinalist Blountstown.

Senior Ashlyn Young, who led the Lady Blue Wave in scoring at 13 points per game, finished third in the voting for the Rural Player of the Year.

“She gave so much of herself to this program to help us win a state championship,” Powers said.

Young only scored six points in the state semifinals against Blountstown, but she added four steals, eight rebounds, and two assists. She scored 15 points, grabbed three rebounds, and added five assists in the championship game against Jay.

“Ashlyn was the epitome of what a team player is,” Powers said. “She didn’t care about personal stats. She cared about making her teammates better and putting them in position to be successful.”

Chiefland junior Nyasia Bivins finished second in the voting, edging Young by just one point, 50-49.

Bivins averaged 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for the Indians (22-4), who lost at Wildwood, 69-15, in the Rural-Region 4 Semifinals.

“It’s not about how big you are, what matters is how big you play,” said Chiefland coach Lee Bell. “She’s able to play inside and outside. She shoots the ball well from the outside.”

Sa’Nyree Myers of Moore Haven (67 points), which lost 65-14 at Williston in the Rural-Region 4 Semifinals, finished first in the voting for Rural Player of the Year.

The eight individual class finalists for the 2026 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball and Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school girls’ basketball coaches and prep media members.

Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in their classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in their class. The two winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.

The eight finalists for the 2026 Miss Basketball Award:

Serenity Hardy, Winter Haven, Senior, Guard, Class 7A Player of the Year

Led her team to 20-7 record and a Class 7A state runner-up finish by averaging 23.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.1 assists per game. She has signed with the University of South Florida.

Isabella Sangha, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), Senior, Forward, Class 6A Player of the Year

Led her team to a 22-8 record and the Class 6A state title by averaging 15.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 1.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game. She has signed with the University of Notre Dame to play both basketball and volleyball.

Ashlynn Day, Gateway (Kissimmee), Sophomore, Guard, Class 5A Player of the Year

Led her team to a 26-4 record and a spot in the Class 5A state Final Four by averaging 21.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.5 steals per game.

Kathleen Crawley, Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), Junior, Guard, Class 4A Player of the Year

Led her team to a 28-4 record and the Class 4A state title by averaging 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds,1.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Leiyah Bain, Miami Killian, Senior, Guard, Class 3A Player of the Year

Led her team to a 12-3 record by averaging 35.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.2 steals per game.

Jalynn Belton, Miami Country Day, Junior, Guard/Forward, Class 2A Player of the Year

Led her team to a 28-2 record and the Class 2A state title by averaging 13.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game.

Jasleen Green, Grandview Prep (Boca Raton), Senior, Guard, Class 1A Player of the Year

Led her team to a 26-4 record and the Class 1A the state title by averaging 17.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Signed with the University of Arizona.

Sa’Nyree Myers, Moore Haven, Senior, Guard, Rural Class Player of the Year

Led her team to a 25-1 record by averaging 28.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 4.4 steals per game.

The eight finalists for the 2026 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year:

Daniela Barrios, Doral Academy, Class 7A Coach of the Year

In her first year as head coach, the Doral alumna led her team to a 28-2 record and the Class 7A state title, the first state championship in school history.

Emily Williams, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), Class 6A Coach of the Year

In her first year as head coach at Aquinas, she led her team to a 22-8 record and the Class 6A title.

Jade Brown, Booker T. Washington (Pensacola), Class 5A Coach of the Year

Led her squad to a 24-3 record and the Class 5A state championship. In 14 years, Brown has posted a 214-110 record, including a 68-11 record the past three years.

Will Mayer, Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), Class 4A Coach of the Year

Led his squad to a 28-4 record and the Class 4A state title. In five years at Bishop Kenny, Mayer has posted a 134-21 record with a pair of state runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024.

Anthony McCutcheon, Somerset Academy – Canyons (Boynton Beach), Class 3A Coach of the Year

Led his team to a 24-4 record and the Class 3A state title. In five years at Somerset, McCutcheon has posted a 100-32 record with a state Final Four appearance in 2025.

Ochiel Swaby, Miami Country Day, Class 2A Coach of the Year

Led his squad to a 28-2 record and a fourth straight state title. In 22 years at MCD, Swaby has compiled a 494-143 record with 11 state championships.

Jeff Price, Grandview Prep (Boca Raton), Class 1A Coach of the Year

In his second year as a high school head coach after a 42-year collegiate coaching career, Price led his squad to a 26-4 record and its second straight Class 1A state title.

Willie Powers, Williston, Rural Class Coach of the Year

In his second year at Williston, Powers led his squad to a 22-2 record and the Rural Class state title. In 21 years as head coach at P.K. Yonge, Powers won two state titles (2010 and 2012) and had six Final Four appearances.

Final voting numbers by class (top three):

Class 7A

Player School Points

Serenity Hardy Winter Haven 121

Stephanie Vega Doral Academy 52

Sakura Barnes South Dade 50

Coach School Points

Daniela Barrios Doral Academy 124

Johnny Lawson Winter Haven 81

Marcus Spencer Ocoee 37

Class 6A

Player School Points

Isabella Sangha St. Thomas Aquinas 84

Audrey Beyer Tocoi Creek 54

Danielle Dube Lakewood Ranch 40

Coach School Points

Emily Williams St. Thomas Aquinas 124

Jonathan Frazier Bayside 62

Kirsten Clement Bartram Trail 37

Class 5A

Player School Points

Ashlynn Day Gateway 66

Chamiah Francis Booker T. Washington 57

Khloe Rodgers South Fork 47

Coach School Points

Jade Brown Booker T. Washington 120

Robert Giles Gateway 62

James Green Blanche Ely 57

Class 4A

Player School Points

Kathleen Crawley Bishop Kenny 75

Makenzie Leigh Bonita Springs 44

Vanessa Vancott Mater Lakes Academy 29

Coach School Points

Will Mayer Bishop Kenny 120

Rickey Claitt Bishop Moore 75

Greg Farias American Heritage 25

Class 3A

Player School Points

Leiyah Bain Miami Killian 61

Ashley Knox Tampa Catholic 59

Athiei Dhal Freeport 52

Coach School Points

Anthony McCutcheon Somerset Academy 124

Al Honor Lake Highland Prep 74

Kelly Stevenson Bolles 49

Class 2A

Player School Points

Jalynn Belton Miami Country Day 52

Navaeh Lee Seffner Christian 47

Shelby Gaines Bishop Snyder 41

Coach School Points

Ochiel Swaby Miami Country Day 121

Will Gibson Holy Trinity 55

Dwayne Donnell Evangelical Christian 44

Class 1A

Player School Points

Jasleen Green Grandview Prep 92

Kendall Proffitt St. Johns Country Day 85

Annalise de Beer Seven Rivers Christian 46

Coach School Points

Jeff Price Grandview Prep 125

Stephanie Velez Orlando Christian Prep 75

Nikia Carty Seacrest Country Day 39

Rural Class

Player School Points

Sa’Nyree Myers Moore Haven 67

Nyasia Bivins Chiefland 50

Ashlyn Young Williston 49

Coach School Points

Willie Powers Williston 110

Jorey Diamond Jay 68

Chris Works Blountstown 37